Current degree: PhD Chemistry
Type of mobility: PhD Degree-seeking mobility
Host university: Makerere University
Home university: Kenyatta University
Summary:
I am a teacher with over fourteen years of experience. One thing I love most about teaching is that it always opens my mind to think and work creatively with learners of different personalities and interests. Whenever I see the smiles on the learners’ faces as they understand a concept or acquire a particular skill, I get inspired to work even harder. I am also passionate about research on wastewater and I plan to focus on research that is geared towards recycling of water after my PhD in order to resolve the ever-increasing global water scarcity.
Research:
The rapid generation of plastic waste and their inadequate disposal methods has resulted in a global crisis of pollution in our ecosystem. Microplastics have been acknowledged as pollutants of emerging concern in recent times due to their high increase in the environment and their pollution effects especially in our water resources. Studies done show that microplastics pose as harmful pollutants to biota due to one; they have toxic additives such as flame retardants, plasticizers, and pigments, and two; they pre-concentrate other contaminants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants like the polychlorinated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexachlorocyclohexanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon as they pass through the environment. they are also accidentally or intentionally ingested by organisms that confuse them for food, exposing them to these contaminants. Although water treatment plants act as barrier to microplastic from entering into water bodies, these plants are also point sources because microplastics pass through the treatment stages into the effluent since there is no designed technology in wastewater plant that is specific for their removal. This study seeks to develop a photocatalytic method for degradation of microplastics in water using synthesized photocatalytic nanomaterials from TiO2, modified with metal ions of V, Cu, Co and Mo. Their photodegradation on polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyamide microplastics will be optimized and then they will be applied to the removal of microplastics from environmental water samples. So far, am still waiting for the procured chemicals to embark on the project.
Projects:
Am currently writing a book chapter on Life Cycle Assessment in low-and middle-income economies
Awards:
PhD scholarship awarded by the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility with the African Water Resources Mobility Network (AWaRMN), July, 2020.
A runner-up winner of the contest “Writing Science in Plain English” sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and VOA Learning English. Published article: Scientists Advise: Low-Salt Diet Not for Everyone: http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/scientists-advise-low-salt-diet-not-for-everyone/3524900.html
Skills and Expertise:
Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy
Electrochemical methods such as Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV)
Ultra violet and visible spectroscopy (UV/Vis).
Wet chemistry
MS Office: word, Excel, power point and Access
ChemDraw for drawing chemical structures
Endnote for article writing and publishing
Courses:
Advanced Research Methods, by Makerere University, from 18th to 29th October, 2021
Philosophy of Methods, by Makerere University, from 15th to 26th March 2021
Developing high trust work relationships, online course that introduced the concept of trust in organizations, by The open Learn, The Open University, 22d November 2021.
Introduction to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies, by Humanitarian Leadership Academy with the Save the Children 17th November 2021.
Mentoring for Mentors, Online learning course, by Humanitarian Leadership Academy, 22nd November 2021
Project Management Leadership, online course on by Humanitarian Leadership Academy, 18th November 2021.
Global water resources, online course that explained the strategies being employed across the world to maintain and manage limited water supplies, by The open Learn, The Open University, 22nd November 2021.
Effects of pollutants on the aquatic environment, online course that discussed the major sources of water pollution, the pollutants they contain and their effects on the aquatic environment by The open Learn, The Open University, 22nd November 2021.
Environmental Impact Assessment, by School of Environmental Studies, Moi University, 30th September 2005.
Connections:
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9wH3_w0AAAAJ&hl=en#d=gsc_md_pro-d&u=%23t%3Dgsc_md_pro_ed
Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Esther-Kinyua-3
Last Modified: Fri, 18 Feb 2022 10:37:50 SAST